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Age related differences in balance approached by a novel dual-task test of anticipatory postural control strategies.


ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:Assessment of balance is key to identifying individuals with postural control deficits and an increased fall risk. Subjects may compensate for their deficits by utilizing other strategies; to avoid this, it is recommended to assess postural control using a dual-task test. In most dual-task tests, it is difficult to monitor the performance in the secondary task and the individual's task prioritisation. This study evaluated a new dual-task testing approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A convenience sample of 54 community-dwelling elderly (age 65+ years) and a reference group of 20 young participants were included in the study. They performed a test in which they could utilize cues to improve their baseline performance, provided their level of postural control allowed them residual attention capacity for this cognitive task. RESULTS:Significant performance differences were seen between the young and the elderly. The young group improved their performance time by 23.9% (10.7) and 7.1% (14.2) with a cue and a reverse cue, respectively, whereas the elderly failed to improve their performance time. The test was unable to distinguish between individuals within the elderly group due to a floor effect. DISCUSSION:The test reveals an individual's capacity to use cues for anticipatory postural control strategies in a dual-task setting and thereby estimates automatization of postural control. While the young subjects were capable of improving their performance during dual-task conditions, the elderly subjects apparently had no residual attentional capacity allowing them to utilize the facilitating cues. Within the elderly group, the dual-task aspects of the test added no value with respect to differentiation in the level of postural control.

SUBMITTER: Laessoe U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6597154 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Age related differences in balance approached by a novel dual-task test of anticipatory postural control strategies.

Laessoe Uffe U   Larsen Camilla Bille CB   Schunck Line Noerkjaer LN   Lehmann Line Jensen LJ   Iversen Halla H  

PloS one 20190627 6


<h4>Introduction</h4>Assessment of balance is key to identifying individuals with postural control deficits and an increased fall risk. Subjects may compensate for their deficits by utilizing other strategies; to avoid this, it is recommended to assess postural control using a dual-task test. In most dual-task tests, it is difficult to monitor the performance in the secondary task and the individual's task prioritisation. This study evaluated a new dual-task testing approach.<h4>Materials and me  ...[more]

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